Many men are concerned about their risk for developing prostate cancer. The John and Maxine Bendheim and Robert Bendheim Prostate Cancer Diagnostic Center was established for men who have high prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, a family history of prostate cancer, or the finding of a pre-malignant condition on biopsy, or who are concerned about their risk for the disease and want a comprehensive evaluation.

With the advent of the PSA test, conducted as part of a routine physical examination, prostate cancer can be diagnosed earlier, when it is most curable. However, a rise in PSA levels does not necessarily mean you will develop prostate cancer. Higher than normal PSA levels could also indicate the presence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlargement of the prostate gland that is a non-cancerous condition. Conversely, some men with normal PSA levels may still have prostate cancer, so further evaluation beyond the PSA test is warranted.

Through a clinical research program based at the John and Maxine Bendheim and Robert Bendheim Prostate Cancer Diagnostic Center and supported by the Sloan Kettering Institute, the research arm of Memorial Sloan Kettering, physicians hope to quantify the risk factors associated with prostate cancer, such as abnormal findings from a rectal examination, family history of the disease, and elevated PSA levels. This vital research will provide important information about treatment options and preventive strategies. In addition, information about your family history will help Memorial Sloan Kettering’s genetic counselors to evaluate your cancer risk. This information will also prove valuable to prostate cancer research because it may determine a genetic link between prostate cancer and other cancers in families.